Michael Shanly is a British property developer, businessman, and philanthropist. Starting from nothing at age 23 — with savings from years of working as a welder and croupier — he founded what would become the Shanly Group, one of the UK's leading independent property businesses. Over more than five decades, the Group has built over 12,000 homes and grown a commercial portfolio of over 1,300 tenants through its property investment arm, Sorbon Estates.
In 1994, Michael established Shanly Foundation, which has since donated over £1.75 million annually to charitable causes across the South East of England. He has been a driving force behind the regeneration of Maidenhead town centre, with the Chapel Arches development earning the RICS Regeneration Award in 2017. In 2023, he received the Maidenhead Civic Society Design Award, presented by former Prime Minister Baroness Theresa May.
Michael serves as Chairman of the Shanly Group and is based in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.